Record holder Ibrahim Shahid wants to bring glory to Pakistan

Ibrahim Shahid thinks education can salvage the country and pull it out of crisis.

ISLAMABAD: Walking in a cold school hallway leading towards the principal’s office is not a very exciting feeling for most students. For Ibrahim Shahid, however an imaginary red carpet had been laid out to the room. He had just scored 23 As in his O-levels.

Ibrahim, also known as the “wonder boy”, is not like any ordinary student. He sat obediently at the edge of his seat in the spacious room.

He was enjoying his conversation with the principal and the teachers’ gaze upon him. He talked about his media schedule and chances of taking part in a school football game.

Wearing black shalwar kameez, the “wonder boy” then got up and shook hands with me.

The principal, Rear Admiral (Retd) Nashat Raffi, said, “The feeling cannot be expressed. The result is announced across the world at the same time and Ibrahim’s achievement is just indefinable.”

He added, “We are confident that he will always set the bar higher every time he gives an exam. He will bring laurels to his parents, teachers, institutions and Pakistan.”

Ibrahim is a student of Beaconhouse School System, Margalla Campus, Islamabad, which is famous for producing great results. He was once told that he was an average student but he never gave up on his aspirations.

“Mattaa Faruq (his friend) urged me to strive for the top position in the O-level examinations. It was after his advice that I started my journey in this direction,” Ibrahim said.

But his success was achieved alone. Other people played a prominent role too.

His mother, Alia Shahid, a computer scientist, decided to leave her job at the peak of her career and focus on her three children.

She believes that the dedication of parents can make anything happen.

“Every parent should believe in themselves and keep working with their children, believe me every child can do it,” she said.

Ibrahim’s father Shahid Anwar, an electrical engineer teaching at NU-FAST, said financial cost was another big consideration. “It was a big investment.”

He added, “Usually students opt to take eight exams, which are very costly. It is not just the sky-high school fees but some of the books had to be arranged from England.”

Ibrahim’s parents were even willing to sell their home and property for this purpose.

“But in the end we appreciate Ibrahim for his struggle. It was all worth it,” Anwar said.

The young star takes his inspiration from great names in history such as Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and Dr Younas of Bangladesh who have “contributed towards eliminating the miseries of their country.”

While preparing for the exams, Ibrahim’s approach was not all study and no play. He continued playing football and volleyball.

The reason according to him was that a relaxed
mind performs better and playing sports is the best way to do that.

Proud of his mother tongue, Ibrahim said that a day will come when Urdu will become prominent on the world map.

Education, he believes, is the key to Pakistan’s salvation.

Talking about his future plans, Ibrahim said that he wants to focus on his education at the moment and complete his A-levels. He aspires to opt for higher education in either engineering or actuarial sciences.

He might go abroad for studying but he will be back to do his bit for Pakistan. “Taking a one way ticket out of this beautiful place is not a solution, the greater success is in the fact that we have to give our entire effort to this country to revive it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2011.